Rev. William H. Smallwood dies at 96
Rev. William H. Smallwood, who pastored a number of churches in the African Methodist Episcopal denomination and spent 25 years as pastor of Allen AME Church, died Friday. He was 96 and lived in West Philadelphia.
He was a graduate of Central High School, Wilberforce University and Paine Theological Seminary in Ohio.
After his formal education was completed, he continued to exert a strong intellectual curiosity. He was well-read in the news of the day and in philosophical and theological subjects. He enjoyed reading the New York Times Book Review every week.
In 1937, he was ordained and became assistant pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church. A short time later, he was appointed pastor of Mother Bethel’s Youth Church.
Besides Allen AME Church, he pastored Union AME in Easton; St. John AME in Wayne; Bethel AME in Lamott, Pa.; Olive AME in Philadelphia; Monumental AME in Steelton, Pa.; St. Paul AME in Elmwood, Pa.; Bethel AME in Bryn Mawr; Ward AME in Philadelphia, and Zion AME in Philadelphia. .
He was twice voted Minister of the Year by the Laymen of the First Episcopal District. For more than 60 years, he served in the Philadelphia Conference of the First District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was a two-term president of the Main Line branch of the NAACP and was an active member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. As a youth, he was one of the first five African-Americans to become Eagle Scouts.
Even after his retirement in 1998, Smallwood often made himself available to comfort the bereaved and to celebrate marriages of the many who continued to seek his compassionate understanding.
He is survived by two daughters, Carole Smallwood-Statham and the Rev. Dr. Gloria J. Smallwood; four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Comments (1)
Reverend Smallwood…
There are too many words to say. My grandmother, Reverend Carrie Johnson, came to know him to be a friend. So, when, after years of traveling from West Philadelphia to North Philadelphia to attend Morris Brown AME, she found out the Reverend Smallwood was at Allen AME, our small family began to attend there.
Reverend Smallwood was the most caring man. His gentle way always made everyone feel loved and appreciated. Years after leaving Allen, I joined Zion AME where my grandmother had been a member under Reverend Smallwood. One Sunday, he visited us for a conference event. Without even thinking long, Reverend Smallwood asked how my mother and siblings were. That’s the kind of man that he was.
I’ll always remember how treated the gospel. His joy was in preaching – and few could preach as he did. A shout from the thin balding man behind him …the joy of the Lord just now filled the room. He preaches and the choir begins to stand.
We shall meeting again Reverend Smallwood – on that great gettin’ up morning. Won’t it be grand???
One of your sons –
Michael